Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari has informed that Rs.1500 crores have been collected so far for the ‘Clean Ganga’ project to be launched next year by floating a global tender.

Cleaning River Ganges (Ganga) was one of the poll promises made by the BJP prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. A draft Plan for cleaning the Ganges was also prepared by the Centre. Speaking to newsmen about the project, Gadkari said “I took part in last week’s London rally for renovation of River Ganges by flagging off the rally which helped in collecting Rs.1000 crores for the project from London-based industrial firms.

“Rs.500 crores has been collected through donations from the industrialists in the country. Ganges running through Patna, Kanpur, Hardwar and Kolkata would be renovated under the project. I shall soon visit Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata to popularize this project. The Centre is planning to spend Rs.20000 crores to renovate the entire stretch of River Ganges.

“97 sub-projects have been prepared in this regard out of which 55 have commenced in right earnest. 15 projects would be implemented with the assistance and cooperation of private players and tender for the rest of the projects would be floated by March next year. The campaign would also help in enhancing the development of more than 4,500 villages,” Gadkari concluded.